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Pupils of J. G. Bennett

John G. Bennett did not begin formally to teach students until 1971, when the Sherborne experiment was inaugurated. However, he began back in the 1920s while still a close pupil of Ouspensky to lead groups studying the system. Effectively, this meant that he had his own pupils, although in fact what he mainly did was to present, amplify and interpret the teachings of the men who had taught him: Gurdjieff and Ouspensky.

The result of this was that, while many came to hear Bennett's interesting presentations, of those who remained, some felt a personal loyalty and respect for Bennett himself, others eventually left after voicing criticisms that Bennett was overstepping his bounds.

Nevertheless, by the 1950s, Bennett was the representative for Gurdjieff in England until Jeanne de Salzmann withdrew her support for him. If you want to know why she did this, you will have to ask someone who knew her. By the 1960s, Bennett had already formally resigned as a Subud helper, and many former pupils parted company with him at that time, but by now people were coming to Coombe Springs in large numbers for the monthly Work Sundays (See "Sunday Talks" - Bennett Books, Santa Fe NM, 2004).

Interestingly, after Bennett returned from his visits to Nepal to meet the Shivapuri Baba, he gave a series of lectures, and invited anyone interested to join him in a course of study. He had absolutely no uptake on this offer.

When he formed his connection with Idries Shah, and after the departure from Coombe Springs, groups of Bennett's pupils met, not to learn from Bennett but simply to read selected stories from Shah's collections. Bennett at this time was working hard on the education research programme of which A. M. Hodgson and Anthony Blake were the central figures, and which eventually led to the formation of Structural Communications Systems Ltd. After his recovery from his near-fatal illness in 1969, psychological and study groups were restarted in a formal and structured way, and there was also a strong group meeting daily at the Bennetts' home in Kingston-upon-Thames for morning exercise.

Not everybody who attended Sherborne House will at the present time consider themselves to be a pupil of Bennett. Since Bennett exhorted one and all to search unceasingly, most have moved onwards on their own path, researched other teachers and teachings and redefined themselves many times. Of all the people who came, went or stayed, there are a number who stand out and who, if still alive, have agreed to be described as Bennett's pupils:

ANTHONY BLAKE (who sometimes signs himself A.G.E. BLAKE)

Tony was and is one of the foremost exponents of Bennett's teachings. While studying Physics at Bristol University, Tony met and became friends with David Bohm, with whom he formed a long-term association. Arriving at Coombe Springs in his early 20s, Tony was quickly recognised by Bennett for his remarkable mastery of difficulty concepts, and was entrusted with the writing of parts of "The Dramatic Universe" Volumes 3 and 4. When asked to review new philosophical texts and new translations of classical ones, Bennett would routinely delegate the task to Tony. People at Coombe Springs used to joke that Tony was the only person who could keep pace with Bennett walking - they were both 6'4" - and also intellectually.

After Coombe Springs was transferred to Idries Shah, Tony continued to live with Bennett's family, and worked at Structural Communications Systems, the educational research establishment of which Bennett was Director.

At Sherborne House, Tony accepted the task of preparing Bennett's talks for publication, and he is responsible for most of the books published by Coombe Springs Press after Bennett's death. "Deeper Man" consists substantially of Tony's verbatim notes, linking passages transcribed from recorded material.

Tony has written extensively in his own right, his most notable publications being "The Intelligent Enneagram" (Shambala Books) "A Seminar on Time" and "Intelligence Now" (both Claymont Communications)

With colleague Karen Stefano, a psychologist, Tony co-founded the DUVersity (a pun on D.U. which is the abbreviation by which Bennett's students refer to "The Dramatic Universe"). This is the forum through which Tony teaches his own students, and he can be contacted through their site.

You can find out much more about Tony through his own sites:
www.anthonyblake.co.uk and www.duversity.org/

GERALD WILDE

Gerald was an extraordinary painter of the abstract expressionist school who arrived at Coombe Springs in 1962 as a protégé of Helen Peech, and remained close to Bennett until the latter's death. Born in 1905 Gerald grew up in West London, and attended Chelsea Art School. Gerald's work had already been recognised in the 1940s, but hard times and hard living had all but shut him down by the time he came to Coombe Springs. Bennett was able to get him painting again, giving him a studio and paints but much of the first work Gerald did was lost almost immediately since he insisted on painting in gouache on large sheets of flimsy newsprint. He eventually began to paint in oil on tub-sized cartridge paper, and he continued in this way for the next ten years. At Sherborne, Bennett, who possessed no skills whatsoever in the plastic arts, was fascinated by Wilde, and allocated him a studio where he could live and work.

Some anecdotes will give a picture of the kind of man he was.

Wilde recounted that one day at Sherborne House, Bennett walked into his studio and said: "I want you to think about The Marriage of Heaven and Hell." (-a reference to William Blake which was not lost on Wilde)

Wilde, who had for much of his life battled alcoholism and depression, asked: "Do you mean that is what my life is?"

Bennett: "Exactly!" and abruptly left the studio. A month later Wilde unveiled one of his greatest paintings.

Bennett's version of this story: "Gerald is remarkable! All I have to do is to say to him that I need an image to represent the cosmic significance of boiled cabbage or whatever, and he produces a masterpiece."

Wilde replying to Tim Mallisch's question of what he should do with his life as an artist: "You've got to be prepared to sink over your head in your own faeces."

Wilde on the use of erasers: "I was in a life drawing class taught by Henry Moore. He saw me using a rubber and snatched it out of my hand and threw it out of the window. I've never used a rubber since."

Wilde on the Russian film director S.M. Eisenstein: "I met Francis Bacon in the Chelsea Art Shop. He asked me if I had read the Colour chapter in 'The Film Sense'. I said I thought it was the most important work on colour that I have ever read."

Wilde's work has been lovingly collected by the October Gallery in London.

Here are a couple of examples of Gerald's work:

Cover for "Energies" (1962)- first book to be printed and published by Coombe Springs Press

Wilde with one of the working drawings for "Marriage of Heaven and Hell" 1973

ROBERT FRIPP

Robert Fripp, who is known worldwide as a true pioneer of guitar teaching and the leader for 40 years of the rock band King Crimson, met Bennett on only one occasion, which was at Bennett's last public lecture in November 1974, a month before he died. However, Robert attended the Fifth Basic Course at Sherborne, and later spent time working intensively at Claymont West Virginia, where he was at one time President of the board of governors. Robert formed a close connection with Elizabeth Bennett at Sherborne House, and undertook the task of preserving and archiving all of the recorded material assembled during the last 40 years of Bennett's life. Anybody who has ever listened to one of Bennett's recorded talks has done so as the result of the work that Robert personally devoted to editing, preparing and producing them.

Robert took what he learned from the Work, and fashioned what has become known as Guitar Craft, or the use of certain techniques found in Gurdjieff's movements in connection with music and guitar playing.

Robert Fripp's company is Discipline Global Mobile, on the web at
www.dgmlive.com

JOHN MCPHERSON

ELAN SICROFF

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